PhotoImpact 12 has several preset work modes. For this tutorial, we will be using the Full Edit mode so all of the tools in PhotoImpact will be available to you.

As you work, use your mouse to drag this along with you to mark your place.

LET'S GET STARTED

You will need a package of business card stock which is available at places like Walmart or your local office supply store. The Avery Clean Edge brand produces excellent results. You will also need to decide what you want on your card. If you are going to show your completed project off on the web, you won't want to use your real personal information.

1. Open a new image 1050x630, white background. This is very large but will give you a much higher quality when you print your cards. Set the resolution to your printers resolution. Just select Printer from the dropdown menu and it will automatically change to the correct setting.
   

2. Click on the Zoom Tool to activate the Zoom tool attributes on the menu bar. Click the drop-down button on the zoom size box and set the zoom to about 50% or whatever is comfortable for you.

3. Open the Easy Palette, click on the Galleries tab. Click on the Image Enhancements section and select the Fill group. Select a background and double-click to fill your image with color. This example uses Natural Texture, NT32.
   

4. Click on the Path tool on the left tool bar. This will activate the path tool attributes on the menu bar. select Shape=rectangle, Color=white, Mode=2D object
   

   and draw a white rectangle in the middle of your image. Leave a fair amount of the background showing. This will become the border.

5. With the white area still selected, click on the Pick Tool on the left tool bar, then click the Align Both box on the menu to center the white rectangle perfectly over your background. Right-click, Merge All.
   

6. Click on the Path Outline Tool on the left tool bar. This will active the Path Tool options on the menu bar. Click on the Line Width and set the width to 1.
   

   Draw a rectangle over the white box leaving just a little bit of the white showing outside of the line. Repeat step #5 to center the box and merge all.

   

   Now you have a basic card. Add whatever information you want to share with others. For personal cards, name, address, phone, cell, pager are good and for web, nickname, AIM/ICQ/MSN info, web page url, email, etc. Add an image if desired. By making "color spots" such as the background border, you can create a lovely card and use a minimum amount of ink while doing so.

   

Ulead has included a nice selection of templates for printing multiple images. We will use the Business Card template to print our cards.

1. On the menu bar, click File\More Print Options\Print Multiple. This will activate the print screen. Select Avery as the type and navigate to the L7413(P) template. Your card will automatically display in the correct boxes on the right side of the screen. Note: Avery has many different numbers for business cards. They are all the same size but they are different colors so they need a different number. The (p) indicates the paper orientation is portrait.
   

2. Notice that your card doesn't fill the entire square. This would be fine if our card was borderless but it isn't. we don't want any of the white around the edges to show. To correct this, click on each individual card and drag the handles to the edges with the small hand that will appear.
   

   Click the Zoom icon on the top of the screen to give you a better view. When you are happy with your card, click File\Print. Be sure to insert your card stock into the printer before pressing the Print button.

Now, wasn't that easy? Impress your friends and family by handing them one of your brand new, original business cards!

Design Tip: Avoid making a solid color background on your card. It eats up the ink very qickly when printing. You can make great looking cards with just one or two small graphics or colored lines.

You're invited to join the PIRC Fourm! This is an active PhotoImpact Forum where you'll find a wonderful group of warm, friendly, talented, and knowledgeable people who are ready and willing to share their expertise with you. There are creative activities for all levels of PhotoImpact users. This forum is 100% free and everyone is welcome.